CEDAR FALLS – The UNI men’s basketball team defeated the Kohawks of Coe College 70-60 in the McLeod Center on Monday night.
The Panthers took an early lead against their Division III opponent and took a 40-30 lead into halftime. The Kohawks got to within 3 points with 3:41 remaining in the half before Trae Berhow unloaded 8 points in the final three minutes to give the Panthers a 10-point lead into the break.
The Panthers went 16-31 (51.6%) from the field in the first half led by Berhow going 5-10 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the arc. Berhow led the way with 13 points and 4 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.
The Panthers continued to pour it on early in the second half, moving ahead 49-32 just three minutes into the half. The Kohawks didn’t go quietly, going on runs of their own to get within 9 points with 5:36 remaining in the game. The Panther defense held Kohawks off to walk away with a 10-point victory.
Trae Berhow and Nate Heise led the way for the Panthers, each finishing with 18 points, a season-high for Heise. Berhow’s stat line finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists, and a block while Heise added 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block.
Noah Carter provided highlight-reel plays throughout the game, finishing with a powerful dunk with 13:46 remaining in the second half going up 56-37, the Panthers largest lead of the game. Carter finished with 13 points and a team-high 8 rebounds.
THE PANTHERS:
– UNI went 27-58 (46.6%) from the field.
– Nate Heise and Trae Berhow led the team in scoring with 18 points apiece.
– Noah Carter hauled in a team-high 8 rebounds.
– Panthers led the game for over 38 minutes.
– UNI scored 30 points in the paint.
THE KOHAWKS:
– Jacob Robertson scored a team-high 14 points and hauled in 6 rebounds.
– Coe scored 22 points in the paint.
– Coe’s bench accounted for 23 of their 60 points.
UP NEXT:
The Panthers now travel to Carbondale, Illinois on January 30 for their series with the Salukis of Southern Illinois. The Panthers and Salukis will tip off at 3 PM on the MVC TV Network.
